Wheel assembly with an electrical connecting device for a rollerskate

ABSTRACT

A wheel assembly has a chassis, two electrical contact strips, multiple wheels, multiple optional washers and an electrical power source. The electrical contact strips are made of conductive material and are mounted on the chassis. Each wheel has two rims, two bearings, at least one illuminating device and a transparent tire. Each illuminating device has two electrical leads connected respectively to the bearings. The washers abut respectively the bearings in the wheels and are electrically connected respectively to the electrical contact strips. The electrical power source is electrically connected to the electrical contact strips. Accordingly, the electrical connecting device electrically connects the illuminating devices in all the wheels together, and the illuminating devices in all wheels will simultaneously light.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wheel assembly, and more particularly to a wheel assembly for a rollerskate, which has an electrical connecting device to electrically connect illuminating devices mounted in multiple wheels together.

2. Description of Related Art

Rollerskating has become popular again in recent years, and is becoming increasingly popular due to new styles and technology. To improve the enjoyment of rollerskating, illuminating devices are often attached to the rollerskate, either in wheels or on a wheel assembly. A generator is mounted in each wheel to generate electrical power when the wheel is rotating, such that the illuminating devices will lighte when the wheels of the rollerskate turn. A conventional generator mounted in a wheel substantially comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator is an annular permanent magnet securely mounted around an axle extending through the wheel. The rotor is annular, is mounted around the stator and is securely held in the wheel. The annular rotor has a coil, and a gap is defined between the stator and the rotor. Accordingly, the rotor will rotate with the wheel relative to the stator and generate electricity to light the illuminating devices connected to the generator.

However, a generator in each wheel of the rollerskate will make the rollerskate heavy and a expensive. Consequently, a conventional rollerskate with generators mounted respectively in the wheels is a heavy load for a person using the rollerskates, especially for a child.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a wheel assembly for a rollerskate to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a wheel assembly that has an electrical connecting device to connect illuminating devices together and reduce the weight of a rollerskate with the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly has a chassis, two electrical contact strips, multiple wheels an electrical power source. The chassis has an inverted U-shaped cross section with two wings extending downward. The electrical contact strips are made of conductive material and are mounted respectively on the wings of the chassis. Each wheel has two rims, two bearings, at least one illuminating device and a transparent tire. Each illuminating device has two electrical leads connected respectively to the bearings. The wheels are rotatably attached to the chassis with axles and washers. The washers abut respectively the bearings on the wheels and are electrically connected respectively to the electrical contact strips. The electrical power source is electrically connected to the electrical contact strips to provide electricity to the illuminating devices in the wheels. Accordingly, an electrical connecting device comprising the electrical contact strips, the washers and the bearings is provided to electrically connect the illuminating devices in all wheels together. The illuminating devices in all wheels will be simultaneously lighted by electricity passing through the electrical connecting device. The weight of the wheel assembly and the cost for manufacturing the wheel assembly are reduced.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel assembly for a rollerskate in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wheel assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view in partial section of a wheel on the wheel assembly in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a front plan view in partial section of a wheel with a generator on a wheel assembly in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wheel assembly for a rollerskate in accordance with the present invention comprises a chassis (10), two electrical contact strips (13), multiple wheels (20) and an electrical power source (not numbered). The chassis (10) has an inverted U-shaped cross section and two wings (11). The two wings (11) extend downward. Each wing (11) has an outer surface (not numbered), an inner surface (not numbered). The inner surfaces face each other.

The electrical contact strips (13) are made of conductive material and are mounted respectively on the wings (11) of the chassis (10). In an optional embodiment, the electrical contact strips (13) are attached respectively to the inner surfaces of the wings (11).

With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wheels (20) are rotatably mounted on the chassis (10) between the wings (11) with axles (27) and washers (26). Each wheel (20) has two sides (not numbered) and comprises two rims (21), two bearings (24), at least one illuminating device (30), an optional sleeve (25) and a tire (28). The rims (21) are combined with each other and each has an axial through hole (22) with an internal lip (not numbered).The bearings (24) are mounted respectively in the axial through holes (22) in the rims (21) and align with each other. Each axle (27) extends through the wings (11) of the chassis (10), one of the wheels (20), a pair of washers (26) and the bearings (24) in the wheel (20), such that the wheels (20) rotate relative to the chassis (10) with low friction. In an optional embodiment, the optional sleeve (25) extends through the bearings (24) in each wheel (20), and the axle (27) is mounted through the sleeve (25).

The illuminating devices (30) are mounted between and extend from the rims (21). Each illuminating device (30) has two electrical leads (31) connected respectively to the bearings (24). In a first embodiment, each illuminating device (30) is a light emitting diode (LED) and has two electrical leads (31) attached respectively to the bearings (24). The tire (28) is made of a transparent material and is mounted around the rims (21) to enclose the at least one illuminating device (30) and to keep the rims (21) from separating from each other.

The washers (26) are mounted respectively between the sides of the wheels (20) and the wings (11) of the chassis (10). Each washer (26) abuts one of the bearings (24) on the corresponding wheel (20) and is electrically connected to one of the electrical contact strips (13) on the chassis (10). In an optional embodiment, the washers (26) abut respectively the electrical contact strips (13) that are mounted on the inner surface of the wings (11) to make the electrically connection with the electrical contact strips (13). In an alternative embodiment, the washers (26) are connected respectively to the electrical contact strips (13) with wires (not shown), and the electrical contact strips (13) can be mounted respectively on the outer surfaces of the wings (11).

The electrical power source is electrically connected to the electrical contact strips (13) to provide electrical power to the illuminating devices (30) in the wheels (20). In the first embodiment, the electrical power source comprises a battery case (15) with at least one battery (not shown) mounted in the battery case (15) and two connecting wires (151). Each connecting wire (151) connects between one of the electrical contact strips (13) and one of electrodes of the at least one battery. Accordingly, the electrical power provided by the battery can be provided to the illuminating devices (30) in all the wheels (20) through the connecting wires (151), the electrical contact strips (13), the washers (26) and the bearings (24). An electrical connecting device comprising the connecting wires (151), the electrical contact strips (13), the washers (26) and the bearings (24) is provided, and the illuminating devices (30) in all wheels (20) will simultaneously light.

Because a generator is unnecessary for each wheel (20), the weight of each wheel (20) is reduced, and the entire weight of the wheel assembly is also reduced. To wear and to use a rollerskate with the wheel assembly in accordance with the present invention is easy and convenient for a person, especially for a child.

With reference to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a wheel assembly in accordance with the present invention is the same as the first embodiment except the electrical power source is a generator (40) and is mounted in one of the wheels (20). The generator (40) comprises an annular rotor (42), an annular permanent magnet (43) and two connecting wires (not numbered). The rotor (42) is mounted between the rims (21) and has a coil (not numbered) with two ends. The annular permanent magnet (43) is mounted around the axle (27) and inside the annular rotor (42). A gap (not numbered) is defined between the rotor (42) and the annular permanent magnet (43) so that the permanent magnet (43) serves as a stator (not numbered). The connecting wires are connected respectively to the ends of the coil and respectively to the bearings (24) in the wheel (20). Each illuminating device (30) is a light emitting diode (LED) with two electrical leads (31) connected respectively to the ends of the coil to be connected to the bearings (24) through the connecting wires.

Each wheel (20) may further comprise a tubular magnet holder (431) and a sleeve (25). The permanent magnet (43) is mounted around the magnet holder (431), and the magnet holder (431), the bearings (24) and the washers (26) are mounted around the sleeve (25). The sleeve (25) is mounted around the axle (27) that extends through the wheel (20).

When the wheel (20) rotates, the rotor (42) will rotate with the wheel (20) relative to the permanent magnet (43) and generate electricity in the coil. The electricity generated by the generator (40) lights the illuminating devices (30) directly connected to the generator (40) and the illuminating devices (40) in the other wheels (20) through the connecting wires, the bearings (24), the washers (26) and the electrical contact strips (13). Since the illuminating devices (30) in all wheels (20) will be simultaneously lighted by a single generator (40) mounted in one of the wheels (20) on the chassis (10), the weight of the wheel assembly in accordance with the present invention is much lighter than a conventional wheel assembly, and the cost for manufacturing a wheel assembly is low.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A wheel assembly for a rollerskate comprising: a chassis with an inverted U-shaped cross section has two wings extending downward; two electrical contact strips made of conductive material mounted respectively on the wings of the chassis; multiple wheels rotatably mounted on the chassis between the wings and each comprising two rims combined with each other; two bearings mounted respectively in the rims; at least one illuminating device mounted between the rims and each illuminating device having two electrical leads connected respectively to the bearings; and a transparent tire mounted around the rims to enclose the at least one illuminating device; multiple axles extending respectively through the wheels and the bearings; two washers attached to each wheel, abutting respectively the bearings in the wheel and electrically connected respectively to the electrical contact strips; and an electrical power source electrically connected to the electrical contact strips to provide electrical power to the illuminating devices in the wheels.
 2. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical power source comprises a battery case with at least one battery received in the battery case and two connecting wires connected respectively between the electrical contact strips and the electrodes of the at least one battery.
 3. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each illuminating device is a light emitting diode (LED) with two electrical leads attached respectively to the bearings on the wheel in which the illuminating device is mounted.
 4. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical power source is mounted in one of the wheels and comprises an annular rotor with a coil mounted between the rims, and the coil having two ends; an annular permanent magnet securely mounted around the axle that extends through the wheel inside the annular rotor, having a gap defined between the rotor and the annular permanent magnet and serving as a stator; and two connecting wires connected respectively to the ends of the coil and respectively to the bearings in the wheel.
 5. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each illuminating device is a light emitting diode (LED) with two electrical leads connected respectively to the ends of the coil to be connected to the bearings through the connecting wires.
 6. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wheel with the generator further comprises a tubular magnet holder around which the permanent magnet is mounted and a sleeve mounted on the axle and around which the magnet holder, the bearings and the washers attached are mounted.
 7. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each wheel further comprises a sleeve mounted around the axle and on which the bearings and the washers are mounted.
 8. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each axle extends through the electrical contact strips; and the washers abut respectively the electrical contact strips to make electrical contact with the electrical contact strips. 